he heads an entirely separate branch of government with an altogether different purpose. i think we need to go back to the way the government was designed to operate, and that is the deliberative function, in the legislative branch, both the house and the senate, acting independently. and then resolving their differences through conference. that process works, it works very well. this business of a couple of legislative leaders and the president going behind closed doors, coming up with some clever scheme, and then dropping it in the laps of the congress for a take it or leave it vote produces bad policy. in fact, bad process also produces bad policy, and that's what we're seeing. >> congressman, we've been seeing virtually no progress to date, but i hope folks have your optimism about not going over the cliff because of the disastrous implications. congressman mcclinton, thanks for coming on. >>> chuck hagel hasn't even been formally nominated to be the next defense secretary, and he's already taking right hooks from members of his own party, but do the attacks add up? >